"One Nation Under Dog: Stories of Fear, Loss, and Betrayal" on HBO at 9:00pm ET. This is a three part film chronicling the US's relationship with dogs, in a series of stories. I think all of this will be hard to watch as the first part, "Fear", deals with a dog that bites and its owner's reluctance to put the dog down even after the dog bites the ear off a toddler. "Loss" is about people morning the loss of their pets, and one couple trying to clone their dog to replace him. The third part, "Betrayal", deals with overpopulation and shelters and includes three minutes of graphic footage of dogs and puppies being euthanized. Basically, you need an extremely strong stomach to sit through all of this. And a large box of tissues. And if you have a dog handy you should warn them that they will be seized by their sobbing human in a bear hug as their human apologizes to them over and over for things that don't directly related to either of them.

"The Glass House" on ABC at 10:00pm ET. Series premiere. This is a reality series where people can tell the contestants what to do online and make the house do things. It seems to be a show designed specifically for people who didn't work out those urges with "The Sims."

"Kurt Sutter's Outlaw Empires" on Discovery at 10:00pm ET. First season finale. For the final installment in the first season, the will be following the Aryan Brotherhood.

Are you following Pajiba on Facebook or Twitter? Every time you do, Bill Murray crashes a wedding.

Comments Are Welcome, Bigots and Trolls Are Not

Bert_McGurt

You all made the right choice. That goddamned show was interesting, but terribly disturbing.

Fredo

HBO's show sounds like the kind of serious work that deserves eyeballs.

I'm just not about to sacrifice my own wet ones to the cause.

Pookie

HBO’s documentary about Dogs should be every interesting. I wonder if it will highlight the interactions between dogs and black people, like when the cops made dogs attack black people in the sixties. Just to be sure, I wouldn’t give a fuck if Michael Vick did engage in dog fighting, who gives a fuck about dogs. People kill animals every goddamn day, for food, for hunting and even companionship. I will not shed not one motherfucking tear over some fucking dogs.

marya

As sometimes happens, Pookie makes a good point despite himself. Dogs are only and utterly what we make them. I mean that in every way. We breed them for certain characteristics. We train them, or fail to train them. We anthropomorphize them. We dress them in stupid outfits and claim they like to accessorize, or put them in spiked collars and claim they enjoy the thrill of the fight. This documentary is fascinating because of what it says about us, not dogs.

Pookie is still an attention-starved little troll, it should be noted.

linny

...people kill animals for companionship?

Well, I guess that makes sense if they want to make little stuffed puppets out of them or mount their heads on the wall. You know. For company.

Seriously, though, it's always a bit fascinating (and heartbreaking) to see how dogs' social tendencies have led to them being everything from seeing-eye dogs to killers, and how many breeds (i.e. Shepherds, Rotties, Pitbulls) have a reputation as a result.

BiblioGlow

EUREKA IS BACK.Yes, I'm still celebrating.

kucheza

Oh man, I spend so much time apologizing to my dog on behalf of humanity, it's not at all funny. He just cocks his head, rests a paw on my arm, forgives us.

puddin

My guy demands reparations in the currency of belly rubs.

Fredo

I'm sure he'll also settle for treats.

Guest

For those who like the HBO thing but want something less heart-gutting, I can't recommend a CBC 3-part podcast enough: "Ideas" did a series called "Dogs Themselves" two years back which similarly looked at our relationship with dogs, all multi-faceted like. It was fabulous (as most "Ideas" shows are). And Paul Kennedy is my CBC husband always and forever.